MALAYSIA AIRLINES IMPOSES LUGGAGE BAN No checked in bags to Europe

Posted on 01/05/2016 | About Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia Airlines has imposed a ban on checked-in baggage on its flights from Kuala Lumpur to Europe, citing safety and "strong head winds" as the reasons for the measure. The ban is effective today (until further notice) and applies to flights to London, Paris and Amsterdam.

Economy passengers will only be allowed cabin baggage of up to 7 kilograms, while Business/First passengers can take two pieces on board totalling 14kg, the airline said on its website. "In the interest of safety, Malaysia Airlines currently operates a long route to Europe, which combined with temporary unseasonably strong head winds, is limiting the airlines' ability to carry baggage in cargo," it said. "This longer flight path consumes more jet fuel and for safety reasons, Malaysia Airlines has had to impose temporary limitation on checked in baggage allowance.

"Passengers who wish to check in their luggage will be able to do so, however their baggage will only arrive later." Connecting passengers travelling on oneworld member carriers with through check in may also have their baggage offloaded due to this operational constraint, it added. In a statement on its website, the airline said, "Malaysia Airlines will continue to assess the changing situation over the region and will update passengers when operations are back to normal. Safety remains the centre of the airline's operations."

This is just the latest in the airlines’ ongoing difficulties. On Christmas Day, flight MH132 from Auckland flew in the wrong direction after air traffic controllers were given the wrong flight plan. The flight headed south instead of north to its destination, Kuala Lumpur before changing course to Malaysia's capital. The airline is also still coping with the loss of two planes, including flight MH370, which disappeared in March last year, after inexplicably deviating from its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight path with 239 passengers and crew onboard.

Malaysia earlier this year confirmed that a wing part found on the French island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean was from the plane, but no further wreckage has been found, despite an intensive Australian-led oceanic search. The airline's horrific 2014 also saw flight MH17 blown out of the sky by a ground-to-air missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 people onboard. In June last year, Malaysia Airlines' new CEO, Christoph Mueller, outlined plans to stabilise the carrier, including cutting 6,000 jobs.